Push broom handle clamp

ABSTRACT

A push broom including a handle and a brush block assembly characterized by latching means in the form of a metal plate and a metal arm cooperating together to secure the handle and brush block together in a positive manner, but yet permitting release when desired.

14 June 24, 1975 United States Patent Jeffers [541 PUSH BROOM HANDLE CLAMP FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 599,678 6/1960 Canada................................. 15/146 [76] Inventor: Carl H. Jeffers, 1021 W. Main St.,

Louisville, Ohio 44641 Sept. 26, 1974 Primary Examiner-Andrew Kundrat [22] Filed:

[21] App]. No.: 509,332

Attorney, Agent, or F irmO1dham and Oldham Co.

[57] ABSTRACT A push broom including a handle and a brush block assembly characterized by latching means in the form of a metal plate and a metal arm cooperating together to secure the handle and brush block together in a positive manner, but yet permitting release when desired.

60 m H3 8 n 2 B 3" 0 m 1 m G SL Um H 1 55 [58] Field of Search....... 403/192, 199, 262; 15/146 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1919 Wi1son.............

403/192 15 14 UX 3 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 1,303,439 1 983,923 12/1934 Stevens et aL...

PATENTEI] JUN 24' 1975 FIE-2 PUSH BROOM HANDLE CLAMP PRIOR ART It has been found in the past that with brooms and brushes of the push broom variety that inadequate mounting for the handle or staff is a frequent problem. Normally, these handles are either screwed into position, or some type of wire guides or supports are provided from the block back to the handle, but all of these prior art methods have the deficiency in that the handle becomes loose from the block, and thus the operability of the broom is impaired, and actual failure between the handle and the block occurs soon thereafter.

OBJECTS An object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide a new and improved brush block-handle attachment arrangement in which the handle is securely attached to the block so that it is strong and durable in use and provides a mounting that is not going to come loose in use even over a long period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a unique mounting for the handle to a brush block for a push broom which utilizes a simple metal plate interconnection with the handle in combination with a rigidizing arm such that strengthening wires or any type of extraneous structure which is objectionable and expensive is eliminated, but that the block can be releasably mounted to the handle so that a new handle can be attached when the old handle wears out due to wear and use and other factors.

The aforesaid objects of the invention and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds are achieved by an apparatus to mount the handle to a push broom head which comprises a large flat plate having a conically tapered handle receiving flange incorporated in one edge thereof, said plate adapted to be securely received in snug fitting relation to a recessed groove on the top central surface of the broom head, a reinforcing bracket including means at one end thereof to connect it to the handle receiving flange and squeeze the handle therein, means to connect it at the other end to the front face of the broom head, and means to secure the bracket and plate together and to the broom head.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be made to the accompanying drawings wherein FIG. 1 is an enlarged, broken-away, cross sectional view through the handle and brush block showing the structure of the attaching assembly comprising a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a broken-away plan view of the attachment assembly of FIG. 1.

Now, with reference to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the numeral indicates generally a wooden broom handle of the type having a conically tapered end portion 12. The handle 10 is attached to a substantially conventional wooden bristle block 14 from which the bristles 16 project downwardly, as is well known in the push "broom field. The block 14 is preferably of wood, and will be normally 3 to 4 inches wide, 1 to 1 /2 inches thick, and probably between 18 to 30 inches in length.

The bristles 16 will normally be of various degrees of stiffness depending on the desired use, and will extend down between 2 /2 to 5 inches from the bottom surface of the block 14.

The apparatus to securely join the handle 10 to the block 14 comprises a base plate 18 which is relatively flat, but whichhas a width so as to snugly fit into a recessed groove 20 in the middle of the head surface of block 14. The plate 18 also may incorporate some strengthening ribs 22 which project above the normal base level of the plate 18. The plate 18 is essentially square shaped, and flat across its whole surface except for the raised ribs 22 so that it fits snugly into the groove 20 and in flat relationship along the whole top surface of the block 14.

In order to attach the tapered portion 12 of the handle 10, the plate 18 includes a conically tapered handle receiving flange 24 along one edge thereof which is angled upwardly from the flat plane of the plate 18 at between 30 to 45 as is normal for the handle to head relationship in a push broom of this type. The tapered portion 12 of handle 10 then snugly is forced into engagement with the handle receiving flange 22 so that it in effect then becomes an integral portion of plate 18 and is held firmly in position with respect thereto by the structure more fully defined hereinafter.

The second securing component of the assembly of the invention comprises a reinforcing bracket identified generally by numeral 26. The bracket 26 is of only about A: the total width of the: plate 18, as best seen in FIG. 2, and has a flat portion 26A which extends in flush relationship acros the top of plate 18, an upwardly angled portion to lie substantially flat against the handle receiving flange 24 of plate 18, with this identified by numeral 268, and a 90 angled end portion 26C. This end portion 26C has fixedly attached thereto as by welds 28, a reinforcing plate 310. The plate 30 fits flush across the front face of the block 14 as illustrated and has a greater width than the plate 18, again as best seen in FIG. 2.

The attachment of the plate 18 and bracket 26 to the handle 10 and the block 14 then is accomplished in the following manner. Specifically, with respect to the handle 10, a U-shaped bracket 32 extends around the base portion of the flange 24 with the open ends of the U extending around the end 26B of bracket 26 and then through appropriate holes in a flat reinforcing plate 34, as best seen in FIG. 1 of the drawings. Holding nuts 36 are then threadably received on each of the ends of the U-shaped bracket 32 and tightly secured down to hold plate 34 flush against the end 26B and thereby pull the U-shaped bracket very tightly around the upper end of the flange 24 so as to securely hold the tapered end 12 of the handle 10 into position in the flange 24. I have found that the U-shaped bracket 32 should have substantially the same contour as the upper portion of flange 24 so that when it is tightened down, an extremely secure locking relationship of the tapered portion 112 of handle 10 to the flange 24 is achieved.

The flat plate 30 is then securely attached to the face of block 14 by appropriate lag screws 40 on opposite sides thereof, as best seen in FIG. 2. Preferably the screws 40 are rather long and would enter into predrilled holes in the block 14 so as to provide a very seappropriate elongated slots 54 and 56 in plate 18 and bracket 26, respectively, and then to be snugly secured in place by a lock washer 58 and nut 60. The provision of the slots 54 and 56 allow for a uniform size plate to effectively cooperate with various width brush blocks The characteristics of my invention which provide for the very secure mounted relationship with the handle and the block are the very long area of engagement of plate 18 along the recessed edges of the groove 20 in the block head which must be tight and very secure so that the long area of engagement means that no undue pressures are brought on any stress point and the plate 18 is going to remain in a very firm position with respect to the block head at all times regardless of use. In addition, the quick removability of the handle is provided simply by the one U-shaped clamp 32. Further, the use of the bracket 26 in combination with the plate 18 eliminates stress points at the connection of the flange 24 to the plate 18, and again lends to the overall simplicity and yet very high strength and flexibility of the assembled arrangement.

In accordance with the patent statutes only a best known embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, but it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby, but that the inventive scope is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus to mount a handle to a push broom head which comprises a. a large flat plate having a conically tapered handle receiving flange projecting from one end thereof, said plate adapted to be securely received in snug fitting relation to a recessed groove on the top central surface of the broom head,

b. a reinforcing bracket including means at one end thereof to connect it to the handle receiving flange and squeeze the handle therein, and means to connect it at the other end to the front face of the broom head, and

0. means to secure the bracket and plate together and to the broom head.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a mounting flange connected to the end of the reinforcing bracket adjacent the front face of the broom head, such flange extending wider than the flat plate, and where the means to connect it comprise lag screws securing the flange to the front face of the broom head.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flat plate and reinforcing bracket have elongated slots therein, and the means to secure the bracket and plate together comprises a lag bolt which extends through the broom head, the slots in the flat plate and reinforcing bracket, and has a nut to secure it in position. 

1. Apparatus to mount a handle to a push broom head which comprises a. a large flat plate having a conically tapered handle receiving flange projecting from one end thereof, said plate adapted to be securely received in snug fitting relation to a recessed groove on the top central surface of the broom head, b. a reinforcing bracket including means at one end thereof to connect it to the handle receiving flange and squeeze the handle therein, and means to connect it at the other end to the front face of the broom head, and c. means to secure the bracket and plate together and to the broom head.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including a mounting flange connected to the end of the reinforcing bracket adjacent the front face of the broom head, such flange extending wider than the flat plate, and where the means to connect it comprise lag screws securing the flange to the front face of the broom head.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the flat plate and reinforcing bracket have elongated slots therein, and the means to secure the bracket and plate together comprises a lag bolt which extends through the broom head, the slots in the flat plate and reinforcing bracket, and has a nut to secure it in position. 